Addie and Elise: Sharing their Tonsillectomy Journey

Our ear, nose and throat experts can tell families a lot about tonsillectomy surgery and recovery. One thing they often can’t tell them: how it will feel.

That's why we connected Addie and Elise’s family, who have experienced tonsillectomy surgery, with Evelyn’s family, as they prepare for surgery.

Our experienced family answers questions, shares their experience and gives advice on how to get through tonsillectomy surgery and recovery. Watch their conversations in the videos below.

Meet Addie and Elise

Lora and Erich’s daughters, Addie and Elise, had tonsillectomy surgery at the same time. Now, they’re sharing the ups and downs of their daughters' surgery and recovery to support others.

Meet Evelyn

Meghan and Dennis are preparing for their daughter Evelyn’s tonsillectomy surgery. They’re hoping to learn what to expect for their daughter’s tonsillectomy and recovery.

The idea of having your child go through surgery can feel intimidating when you don't know what to expect.

Watch the videos below as Evelyn’s family shares their initial concerns about surgery and how our team eased their worries through specialized pediatric care and education.

It’s normal to feel nervous about your child's tonsillectomy and wonder how well your child will recover after surgery. Learning about what to expect can help put your mind at ease.

Lora and Erich share some of the special experiences they had at Children's Colorado on the day of surgery that made a big difference to them and their daughters. They also provide valuable tips on how they helped their kids recover.

Here are Lora's top tips for how to help get your child through tonsillectomy recovery:

• Let your kids pick out snacks before the day of surgery.

• Use humidified air to keep your child's throat moist.

• Apply ice packs on your child's throat or give ice chips and popsicles to help relieve pain.

• Keep a cooler in the room your child sleeps in.

• Give pain medicine around the clock (as directed by your child's surgeon).

• Prefill the measuring device (syringe or cup) for the pain medicine that you'll be giving your child before you go to bed at night.

• Get recipe ideas online for drinks and foods that your child may like.

• Make sure your child drinks plenty of liquids.

• Have your child chew gum if they have problems with bad breath.